Egypt’s home textiles exports increased 4.8 percent reaching $664 million in January-November 2017 period against $443 million registered in the same period last year, according to the Egyptian Home Textiles Export Council (HTEC), under the ministry of foreign trade and industry. Turkey was the largest importer of Egyptian textiles, followed by Italy, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Germany and Portugal.

Meanwhile, exports by Egypt’s Textile Export Council increased by 3 percent between January and October this year, standing at $673 million compared to $651 million during the same period a year before, according to official statistics.

Egypt’s home textiles sector has a lot of potential for export to Europe. Egyptian producers have access to many raw materials. Their nearness to Europe is another advantage. Many companies already export in the region.

In 2018, around 40 companies, under the aegis of HTEC, will be participating in the Heimtextil International Trade Fair for home textiles, to be held from January 9-18, in Frankfurt, Germany, Egyptian media reports said.

The event is the world’s biggest textile exhibition, which makes it a good opportunity to sign new export contracts with companies at the exhibition. HTEC will be located in Hall 8, booth H05.

Some Egyptian companies are also going to partake in the Carpet Domotex International exhibition, scheduled for January 13-17, 2018, in another German town of Hanover.

In October, Egypt’s Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade, Tarek Kabil, accounced the government would launch a national strategy to develop the handicrafts and cultural industry from 2018 through 2020.